Alex Hassan

Hassan got his first taste of the majors in 2014, getting a callup to Boston in June and collecting his first MLB hit. Before and after the brief callup, he spent the 2014 season at Triple-A Pawtucket...

Hassan got a late start in 2013 due to a leg injury, but it he was very productive after he returned. He slashed .321/.431/.460 in 187 at-bats for Triple-A Pawtucket. An offseason adjustment in his swing mechanics paid huge dividends for Hassan, who also played some first base in 2013. The organizational depth at first is somewhat thin and Hassan's spot on the 40-man roster could work to his favor if Boston needs an emergency callup in the outfield or at his new position in 2014.

2012

Hassan handled his promotion to Double-A Portland quite well, showing the great strike-zone management and approach he's been known for at the lower levels. The question remains whether he can generate more loft in his swing to produce more power. It's the offensive part of his game that will get him to the majors, so the improved run production is what we'll be looking for from him in 2012. With a few outfielders ahead of him, developmentally, Hassan will likely repeat at Portland to start the season.

2011

A former pitcher at Duke, Hassan was turned into an everyday player after the Red Sox organization watched him hit in the Cape Cod League. And Hassan hasn't looked back. He has an impeccable eye for the strike zone, which you can see in his on-base percentage. The organization would like to see him generate more power by getting more of his lower body into his swing, but they certainly love the decision to take him off the mound. There's still some work to do defensively, which means he'll probably land in left field eventually, making his power production more important.